John M. Juidici

December 8, 2012

NEGAUNEE, Mich. - John M. Juidici, 94, formerly of 90 Croix Street, Negaunee, and longtime Ishpeming resident died at 1:15 p.m. on Thursday, December 6, 2012 at the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans where he had resided for the past year.

John was born September 5, 1918 in Princeton to Frank and Marianna (Mifasoli) Juidici and moved to North Lake at a young age. He attended Ishpeming High School and served in the Civilian Conservation Corp during the Depression. He was a WWII veteran of the U.S. Navy, enlisting in 1941 and serving as an armed guard/ gunner mate. He survived 22 days afloat on a lifeboat in the South Atlantic after his liberty ship was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine, a story he told only to a few. Following his honorable discharge in 1945 John worked for Cleveland Cliffs at the Lloyd Mine and the Mather B Mine before beginning a long career in the beer, wine, and pop business. He worked for Elson Bottling Works, Bergeron Brothers, and L.R.N. Distributing before his retirement from Griffin Beverage at the age of 86.

Mr. Juidici was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Ishpeming, a life member of the Ishpeming Elks Lodge #447 and the Ishpeming V.F.W. He had a great passion for grouse hunting, and was an avid Detroit Tiger and Green Bay Packer fan. In his younger years he participated in many sports including baseball, bowling, and horseshoes.

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John M. Juidici

Surviving are his son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Colleen Juidici of Negaunee, 2 step-grandsons: Darren (LeAnn) Smith of Lomita, CA, Craig (Tammie) Smith of Waupaca, WI, a sister-in-law, June Lummukka of Ishpeming, several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Jennie "Marian" (Harvala) in 1983, a infant daughter Marybeth, 3 sisters: Lena Gravedoni, Josephine Bessolo, and Perina Koski, one brother, Bart Juidici.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00 noon on Tuesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ishpeming with Rev. James Challancin officiating. Burial will be in the Ishpeming Cemetery. Pallbearers will be: Craig Smith, Reynold Doney, Pete Matuzak, Steve Rector, Paul Michael Koski, and Gary Koski. The family will greet relatives and friends from 10:00 AM until the time of services at noon on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the D. J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans Activity Fund in John's memory.

The family wishes to thank the staff of the Jacobetti Home for Veterans for their care and comfort during john's stay there and appreciate the medical care offered by the Veterans Administration to all veterans, wherever they may be.